When most of us here the term “air pollution,” we think of the air outdoors. But the truth is, many of the chemicals, particles, and other pollutants that impact the quality of air outside can also start to affect our indoor air quality. If you’re living in South Orange County, it’s important that you get to know more about the air quality in the area and how to protect your family from contaminants in the air.

What You Need to Know About Indoor Air Quality in South Orange County

Below, we’ve put together a short and simple guide that will better help you understand South Orange county air quality and how indoor air quality can impact your home environment and family’s health:

If you notice that you or your family members are getting sick more often or having a hard time breathing freely, this may be due to your indoor air quality. Not to mention, those who suffer from allergies, asthma, respiratory issues, or weakened immune systems are especially susceptible to the health hazards that poor air quality brings about. If you want to explore your options for improving indoor air quality, contact us today. We have a range of IAQ solutions that will allow you and your family to enjoy cleaner, healthier air.

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We are just over one-third of the way through this winter, and though it’s been a little chilly on some days, the weather has been beautiful so far. You may be wondering if there is more beautiful weather ahead for Irvine. We’ve put together a brief look at winter weather for the rest of February and March 2017 so that you know what to expect.

Below, we will also discuss how these weather conditions can impact the quality of your indoor air. This information will help you plan ahead for any outdoor activities you may have planned in Irvine this winter while also giving you the information you need to keep the air inside your home comfortable for you and your family.

Irvine Weather Forecast: Winter 2017

In February 2017, temperatures in Irvine will fluctuate a little with highs in the mid to high 60s to low 70s and lows between 49 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Weather throughout most of the month will be sunny with a few partly cloudy days. Don’t plan a picnic on Friday, February 10 as there is a 90% chance of rain. Predicted humidity percentages also tend to fluctuate from 86% in the beginning of the month to 50% mid-February and back up to 80% at the end of the month.

Though it may be too early to predict what March Irvine weather will look like, we can take a look at historic temperature averages in March to get a better understanding of what we might expect in March 2017. Typically, the beginning of March has average highs around 68 or 69 degrees Fahrenheit, with average lows between 44 and 46 degrees. To find out more up-to-date forecasts of temperatures, precipitation, wind, humidity, and the UV index, visit weather.com and search for Irvine, CA.

How Weather Impacts Indoor Air Quality

Now that you know what weather we can expect for the rest of winter, it’s important to recognize how this weather can impact the quality of your indoor air. Humidity levels can sometimes be an issue in Irvine. When relative humidity levels surpass 50 to 60%, this can increase dust mites and promote the growth of mold, both of which can impact your family’s ability to breathe clean and healthy air. Not to mention, these IAQ issues can make it hard for those with allergies and asthma to breathe easy.

However, when humidity levels are too low and the air becomes dry, this can also cause breathing issues. Low humidity can lead to dry skin, itchy eyes, and irritated sinuses and throat. In addition, lower humidity levels can dry out the lining of your respiratory tract, which leaves you and your family members open to the risk of colds, flu, and infections.

Using your air conditioner effectively can help regulate humidity levels, but some homes need something more, especially those who suffer from severe allergies, asthma, and other respiratory issues. A dehumidifier can help regulate high humidity levels, while a humidifier can help add humidity back into the air when it becomes dry. These IAQ devices are available as stand-alone devices, but they can also be incorporated into your existing HVAC system.

Need help staying comfortable this winter? The experienced HVAC team at Kemnitz knows what it takes to keep Irvine homeowners comfortable year-round. Give us a call today to see what we can do for you: (949) 453-8500.

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Asbestos was a very popular building material for a long time. This composite of 6 naturally occurring silicate minerals gained popularity due to its desirable physical properties which made it the perfect material for building insulation, sound absorption and fire resistance among other uses. The use of asbestos continued to intensify through the 20th century until public knowledge, thanks to legislation and the courts, of the health risks of this mineral outlawed its use in mainstream construction and fireproofing in many countries across the globe. What were the issues and are they still relevant in the 21st century?

The Health Risks of Asbestos

Towards the last quarter of the 20th century, scientists realized that prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers was leading to serious and fatal illnesses including mesothelioma, asbestosis, asbestos warts, pleural plaques, Pneumothorax, diffuse pleural thickening and lung cancer. Symptoms that have been associated with asbestos exposure include: shortness of breath, hoarseness or wheezing, pain in the chest, fatigue, swelling of the neck among others. One who develops such symptoms is always advised to consult a doctor. Exposure to asbestos can come in many forms including: having asbestos as a component in your building materials, working with asbestos or materials that can lead to release of asbestos fibers or just handling asbestos in the process of getting rid of it from a site.

The nature of asbestos related diseases complicated asbestos litigation. The major challenge was the slow emergence of symptoms long after exposure to asbestos ceased. Remember that this mineral was widely acclaimed as a solution to all the construction issues earlier mentioned.

Thus attempts to outlaw its use faced stiff opposition from numerous quotas. This made the litigation process long and expensive but finally the mineral was out awed in many countries and remains so till now.

However, there are those who feel that outright ban of asbestos in not the solution. They contend that seeking innovative ways to prevent the lethal effects is a more realistic approach to the challenge. They argue that the benefits of asbestos are too important to wish away.

Has anything changed in the 21st Century?

It appears the only thing that has changed is time. There is no documented research that powerfully counters the facts about the dangers of asbestos as identified in the previous century. Neither have we evolved to develop resistance or immunity to the hazards of this mineral. Happenings in this century strongly support the idea that asbestos is still as dangerous to human health as it was in bygone eras.

Many governments have stringent regulation on the removal and disposal of asbestos. These are meant to protect all the people who are exposed to this mineral as well as protecting the environment in the process of disposing the asbestos. In addition the continued development of substitutes for asbestos in construction is a powerful admission that the mineral still carries its negative attributes in the 21st century. Fiber glass insulation, mineral wool and glass wool are perfect examples of these substitutes.

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